Japan has endorsed scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports, a major change of its postwar pacifist policy as the country seeks to build up its arms industry and deepen cooperation with defense partners.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reversed limits on arms exports as Japan faces rising threats from China and unpredictability from its main ally, the United States.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made an offering to a shrine seen by Japan’s neighbors as glorifying its wartime past, in a move that stops short of a visit but may still anger China and other neighboring nations.

Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.

A major, 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the quake had a magnitude of 7.

While immediate damage appears limited, the bigger question now is whether this quake could be a precursor to something larger.

Japan is taking part in the annual Balikatan military drills led by the Philippines and the US starting Monday. This marks Japan's full and high-profile participation in the military exercises for the first time, rather than participating as observers or ...

A POWERFUL 7.7-magnitude quake has sparked fears that a huge megaquake could rock Japan as thousands are evacuated. The earthquake triggered a tsunami warning – with swells of up to 10ft